Questions
PSYC20007_2025_SM2 Supplementary or Special Exam: Cognitive Psychology (PSYC20007_2025_SM2)- Requires Respondus LockDown Browser
Single choice
Eriksen and St James (1986) argued that performance on the Eriksen flanker task is best explained by:
Options
A.A capacity theory, in which targets and flankers both compete for a single source of capacity, which increases RT with incompatible flankers.
B.A late selection theory, in which incompatible flankers are processed by a limited capacity channel, which increases RT.
C.A zoom lens model, in which incompatible flankers are processed during an initial “zoomed out” stage, increasing RT with incompatible flankers.
D.A two-stage model in which nontarget items are rejected during an initial parallel scan of the display, increasing RT with incompatible flankers.
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Step-by-Step Analysis
To analyze Eriksen and St James (1986) on the Eriksen flanker task, we must compare competing theoretical accounts of how flankers influence reaction time and accuracy.
Option A states a capacity theory where targets and flankers compete for a single pool of cognitive resources, predicting longer RTs with incompatible flankers due to limited capacity. However, this interpretation does not capture the key proposal of Eriksen and St James, which emphasizes flexible allocation of attention rather than a single, undifferentiated capacity bottleneck.......Login to view full explanationLog in for full answers
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